A few years ago, Sen. Marco Rubio was defending LGBT people against Christian conservatives. But now, he’s changing his mind.
The Florida Senate passed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill that prohibits topics covering sexual orientation or gender identity that Gov. Ron DeSantis will most likely sign into law. The bill would be detrimental to LGBT students. Even so, Rubio has shown support for the legislation.
On March 14, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned that the Florida bill "sends a signal to LGBTQ+ youth that they are not fully accepted."
In response, Rubio tweeted that Murthy "argues that schools should be having discussions with children from 5 to 8 years old about sexual orientation & gender identity," the American Independent reported.
Rubio then posted a Bible quote from the Book of Isaiah about Sodom and Gomorrah — two ancient cities that LGBT rights opponents often cite to condemn same-sex relationships: "Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah!"
In 2016, however, he voiced his support for the LGBT community when he was running for re-election for the Senate after losing the Republican primary to former President Donald Trump. He claimed to be an ally after the Pulse Massacre where 49 people died in an LGBT nightclub.
“You know, I haven’t even given it thought in that perspective other than to say that I’ve been deeply impacted by it, and I think when it visits your home state, and it impacts a community you know well, it really gives you pause to think a little bit about, you know, your service to your country and where you can be most useful to your country,” Rubio told radio host Hugh Hewitt during an interview in June 2016.
Also in 2016, he told a group of Christian conservatives that "loving our LGBT neighbors is not a betrayal of what the Bible teaches" and that the United States "has been marred by discrimination against and rejection of gays and lesbians," according to the New York Times.
"Do not judge, or you will be judged," Rubio said at the time. "To love our neighbors we must recognize that many have experienced sometimes severe condemnation and judgment from some Christians. They have heard some say that the reason God will bring condemnation on America is because of them — as if somehow God was willing to put up with adultery and gluttony and greed and pride, but now this is the last straw."
The Human Rights Campaign scored Rubio a zero on his record on LGBT rights in the last three sessions of Congress.
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